Reprint of: The European badger, Meles Meles, as a new host for Trichinella britovi in Romania.

The European badger, Meles meles (Carnivora, Mustelidae) is a widespread opportunistic omnivorous mammal. Its food spectrum comprises a wide variety of plants and small animals, occasionally including rodents, such as mice or rats. Considering that rodents are known to play a key role in the life cycle of Trichinella spp., the aims of this study were to investigate the occurrence of these parasites in badgers from Romania and to identify the species. Overall, 61 badgers originating from 14 counties were examined by trichinoscopy and artificial digestion. For species determination, the positive muscle samples, and the larvae recovered from the artificial digestion were used for DNA isolation, and further processed by multiplex PCR. A single badger, originating from Sibiu County, Central Romania, was found positive for Trichinella spp. Five cysts were identified using trichinoscopy: four in the diaphragm and one in the foreleg muscles. Artificial digestion revealed an infection rate of 70 larvae/100 g of muscle. The PCR indicated the occurrence of T. britovi, which is the most commonly detected species in wild carnivores in temperate areas. Although T. britovi has previously been reported in Romania, this represents the first report of its occurrence in the European badger in the country. However, the low prevalence indicates a minor reservoir role of this species.

Babesia pisicii n. sp. and Babesia canis Infect European Wild Cats, Felis silvestris, in Romania.

Haemoparasites of the genus Babesia infect a wide range of domestic and wild animals. Feline babesiosis is considered endemic in South Africa, while data on Babesia spp. infection in felids in Europe is scarce. Using samples from 51 wild felids, 44 Felis silvestris and 7 Lynx lynx, the study aimed to determine the presence and genetic diversity of Babesia spp. in wild felids in Romania by analyzing the 18S rDNA and two mitochondrial markers, cytochrome b (Cytb) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes. By 18S rDNA analyses, Babesia spp. DNA was detected in 20 European wild felids. All sequences showed 100% similarity to B. canis by BLAST analysis. Conversely, Cytb and COI analyses revealed the presence of two Babesia spp., B. pisicii n. sp., which we herein describe, and B. canis. The pairwise comparison of both mitochondrial genes of B. pisicii n. sp. showed a genetic distance of at least 10.3% from the most closely related species, B. rossi. Phylogenetic analyses of Cytb and COI genes revealed that B. pisicii n. sp. is related to the so-called "large" canid-associated Babesia species forming a separate subclade in a sister position to B. rossi.

The European badger, Meles meles, as a new host for Trichinella britovi in Romania.

The European badger, Meles meles (Carnivora, Mustelidae) is a widespread opportunistic omnivorous mammal. Its food spectrum comprises a wide variety of plants and small animals, occasionally including rodents, such as mice or rats. Considering that rodents are known to play a key role in the life cycle of Trichinella spp., the aims of this study were to investigate the occurrence of these parasites in badgers from Romania and to identify the species. Overall, 61 badgers originating from 14 counties were examined by trichinoscopy and artificial digestion. For species determination, the positive muscle samples, and the larvae recovered from the artificial digestion were used for DNA isolation, and further processed by multiplex PCR. A single badger, originating from Sibiu County, Central Romania, was found positive for Trichinella spp. Five cysts were identified using trichinoscopy: four in the diaphragm and one in the foreleg muscles. Artificial digestion revealed an infection rate of 70 larvae/100 g of muscle. The PCR indicated the occurrence of T. britovi, which is the most commonly detected species in wild carnivores in temperate areas. Although T. britovi has previously been reported in Romania, this represents the first report of its occurrence in the European badger in the country. However, the low prevalence indicates a minor reservoir role of this species.

Anhemialges suteui n. sp. (Astigmata: Analgidae) from Hylia prasina (Cassin) (Passeriformes, Macrosphenidae) in Ivory Coast.

Anhemialges suteui n. sp. (Astigmata: Analgidae: Analginae) is described from the green hylia Hylia prasina (Cassin) (Passeriformes, Macrosphenidae) in Ivory Coast. The new species differs from the closest species, Anhemialges mironovi Kolarova, 2010, by the following features: in both sexes, solenidion σ on genu II is modified and widened in a form of leaf; dorsal setae c2, d2 and e2 are longer; and sternum and epimerites II are thinner. In males of the new species ambulacral discs of legs IV extend beyond the level of the lobar apices; in females, dorsal setae c2, d2 and e2 are situated on small oval shields and the anterior margin of epigynum exceeds the level of mesal extremities of epimerites II.